Pressure and vacuum steam-heating valve.



E. C. GOEE. PRESSURE AND VACUUM STEAM HEATING VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED FEBA, 1908.

Patented sept.2s,19o9.

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FRANK C. GOFF, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PRESSURE AND VACUUM STEAM-HEATING VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Application filed February 4, 1908. Serial No. 414,286.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure and Vacuum Steam-Heating Valves; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates broadly considered to improvements in air valves for steam heating systems. A

My improved valve is adapted to close, both by virtue of the action ofthe steam when entering the valve and also by virtue of suction or the vacuum pull due to condensation in the system thus preventing the entrance of air from the outside by way of the port in the valve casing. It is also adapted to open due to air pressure in the system.

My improved construction includes a cas-` ing, a float valve and a diaphragm. Vithin the upper part of the casing an annular chamber is formed between an inner partition and the casing proper. This chamber is in direct communication with the steam heating system by way of the opening in the nipple which is screwed into the radiator or other device. The annular partition in the upper part of the chamber, separates the annular chamber from the main chamber.

Assuming that the steam is turned on and that the system contains air, this air is forced into the chamber of the air valve and acting on the diaphragm depresses the same causing the float to drop whereby the valve The air is thus allowed to escape through the valve port and this will continue unt-il all the air has been driven out of the radiator. The steam then entering the casing of the air valve heats the latter and causes the water of condensation therein to expand, whereby t-he float is caused to rise and seat the valve thus preventing the escape of steam. When the steam is shut olf and the system cools, resulting in steam condensation and a partial vacuum within the system, this vacuum-pull acting on the diaphragm causes the latter to C. Goni?, a

` rise and lift the float suiiiciently to close the valve thus preventing the entrance of air from the outside.

The diaphragm may be at any desired location which will permit it to perform the aforesaid function. As illustrated in the drawing the diaphragm is located at the bot tom of the casing and closes the latter at its lower end. To this diaphragm is attached a pin upon which the lower extremity of the float rests. Normally the diaphragm is in such position that the pin holds the float in position to seat the valve or hold the same practically in the closed position. It is evident, however, that the diaphragm may be otherwise located.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved air valve. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3 Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the casing of the air valve which as shown in the drawing consists of a body portion 6, a top portion 7, and a bottom portion 8, the parts 7 and 8 being connected with the body portion by securing the parts together. To the base 8 is attached a iiexible diaphragm 9, to the center of which is secured a pin 10 upon which rests a float 12 to the upper portion of which is attached a valve pin 13 adapted4 to engage a seat 14 and close a port 15. To the top of the upper portion 7 of the casing is screwed a cap 16 having a port 17 communicating with the outer air. In the upper portion of the casing is located an annular partition 18 forming an auxiliary chamber 19 between the partition and the casing. This chamber is in communication with a port 20 surrounded by a nipple 21 having a passage 22 communicating with the steam heating system (not shown).

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved air valve will be readily understood. Assuming that the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing or in what may be termed the normal position, the operation is as follows: Then steam is turned into the system it first acts to drive the air therefrom into the air valves of the radiators Asthe airenters an air valve the pressure acts upon the diaphragm 9 to depress the lattergwhereby the float 12 is caused to drop, thus carrying the valve 13 away from its seat andopening the port 15 allowing` the air to escape as long as there is any in the system. As soon as the air has all been expelled, the steam enters lthe valve-casing and heatingy the watery 23 therein, expands the-saine and causes the float to rise with the result that the valve is seated and the port 15 closed to prevent the escape of steam'. This is the normal condition' of. the .device when the steam is turned onfor heating purposes, l will nowassume thatthe radiator becomes cooled froinany cause, sufficiently to produce steam conden-. sation; ln thisevent the vacuum pull will vact on the diaphragm 9 to' lift the latter or cause it tomove inwardly thus forcing they pin 10- against thc float 12 and causingthe flatter to move upwardlyv whereby the valve f 13 is. caused toseat and close the port 15 thus preventingthe entrance of air to the system.

It is a rscientilicfactthat water when i heated `from atemperature of SOO to 212O iF-ahrenheit, or to the boiling point, expands 15. of its volume; or, in other words, the.

expansion of the water under the circuin- `stances as stated, is about 6 that of air.

I have determined mathematicallytliat the water will rise within the contact space of the wellsu 1rounding theupper part of thei float, of an inch, due to the expansion of thevwater, by virtue ofV its being heated to,

or approximately yto the boiling point. This rise is more than sufficient to actuate the valve to'close the latter when steam enters the radiator. lt is true that when steam senters the radiator,condensation takes place g' Y but the heat of the steam acts practically in stantaneously uponthe water, since the an.

nular partition 18 forming the chamber 1.9', presents a relatively large heating-surface in contact with the steam, whereby the volnine of water within the well or casing of .the valve, is increased sufficiently to raise the float and close the valve.' Hence, when there issuflicient pressure within the valve- Y to. keep the diaphragm depressed, the closing .action ofthe valve due to water expansion Vtakes place before there is sufficient condensation to cause the float torise. i

system due to steam condensation, to cause the diaphragm to move kinwardly sufficiently to close the valvefor the purpose ofpre-V venting the entrance of `air to the system when the latter is cooled.

It is well known that a cubic inch of water lMy improved valve is operated through Vwhen converted into steam has a volume of `approxiniately one cubic foot: Hence, when steam is condensed, almost a perfect vacuum results and tliisvacuuin pull within the system acts to pull the diaphragm inwardly sufliciently to lift the float and v.close ,the valve, whether or not sufficient water were in the well to perform this function. It may be stated that the weight of the water within the well or casing ofthe valve is .never sufficient to .depress the diaphragm or cause the valve to drop, since .the diaphragm is of sufficient resistance to supporta column of water several times the .height ofv lthat ywithin the well orL the casing ofthe valve.

`The operation of the valve may bebriefly `described as fol-lows: It may be'. assumed that there is not sufficient water in the valve .casing to: float the valve, butthat the valve is supported inthe closed position by the normal rigidity orl strength of theI diaphragm.K Now, if we assumefthat steam enters the .system and drives .the air before it into the valve casing, the pressure of this .air acted upon bythe steam, will be suliicient to depress the diaphragm and open the valve, holding the latter openA by virtue of the pressure ofthefaii' acting on the diaphragm, :untilthe-steam enters the valve. As soon as the steam enters, the pressure will be practically the saine, and if -it were not'. for the heat ofthe steam, the 'valve would remain open until the water of-con- -deiisation was sufficient to floatrthe valve fregardless of Athe outward vpressure of the diaphragm. The heat of the steam, however, acts .upon the water to expand ther-latter, causing the same to rise within the reduced part of. the well-surrounding the upper part of the float, sufliciently to seat the valve. Again, if Vthe vsystem cools sufficiently to reduce the volume of water, the valve, acting as ia float, may drop for this reasoii.=lVlien, however, there is Ysu'liicient condensation -within the system to produce an inward Vacuum pull upon the diaphragm, the valve will be closed to shut out the entrance of air to the system. The condensation which is constantly taking place in the system when supplied with steam, results in a partial vacuum which, acting onv the diaphragm,

serves to hold the valve-tightly against its seat, thus preventing the entrance of aii" to the system when the temperature of the latter is too low to produce the necessary water expansion in the well for'that purpose. 4In

explanation of this it-may be statedthat water vaporizes at a low temperature in the presence of the partial vacuum due to conf deiisation. Hence, steam-may be maintained in the system when at a temperature far below the water boiling point of 2120 Fahren- -heit at sea level, assuming that thepi'essure within the system is considerably below vthat of the atmosphere, due to the vacuum condition resulting from steam condensation. It may, therefore, be stated that my improved valve is kept closed at proper times through the two agencies, one being the vacuum condition due to condensation, acting on the diaphragm; and the other to the heat of the system acting to expand the water and raise the float, when the pressure within the system is greater than that of the atmosphere.

As shown in the drawing a plate 24C is applied to the base 8 below the diaphragm 9. This plate conceals and protects the diaphragm and at the same time permits the diaphragm sufficient movement or vibration in the downward direction to perform the valveopening function or to allow the float valve to move downwardly suiciently to unseat the valve pin 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an air valve for steam radiators, the combination of a casing having an inlet adapted to communicate with a radiator, said inlet being located intermediate the extremities of the casing, the latter being provided with a partition forming the upper portion of a water-containing well extending above the inlet and cut o from communication with the latter, except at the top, the casing having an outlet port at the top of restricted cross section, a lioat within the well, provided with a valve for controlling said port, a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom of the well, the diaphragm being provided with an upwardly projecting member forming a support for the float, substantially as described.

2. An air valve for steam radiators provided with an inlet opening, an outlet port, a loat chamber having an inlet opening at the top, a valve ioat in said chamber, the said float carrying a valve to control the outlet port, and a flexible diaphragm located below and connected in operative relation with the said float, the said valve being adapted to be operated solely by the diaphragm, and the water in the said chamber.

3. In an air valve for steam radiators, the combination of a casing having an inlet opening and provided with a partition extending above the inlet and forming the upper portion of a water-containing well which is cut off from communication with the inlet, except at the top of the well, the water within the well being maintained at a level varying near the top of the well, a valve float supported by the water in the well, a valve controlled by the said float, the casing having an outlet port controlled by said valve, and a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom of the well, the diaphragm being connected in operative relation with the float, whereby, when under the influence of pressure below that of the atmosphere, it will act to close the valve by actuating the valve float. 1

4. In an air valve for steam radiators, the combination of a casing having an inlet intermediate its ends, said inlet adapted to communicate with the radiator, the casing having a restricted outlet at its top, and provided with a hollow member open at both ends, the lower end forming a water tight joint with the inside of the casing below the inlet, its upper part extending above the inlet, the said hollow member being spaced from the casing; a lioat carrying a valve adapted to close the air outlet, the lioat being located within a watercontaining well formed by the hollow member and the casing, a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom of the well, and an operative connection between the diaphragm and the float, whereby, when the diaphragm is raised by the reduction of pressure within the chamber, the valve closes the air outlet port, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK C. GOFF.

Witnesses DENA NELSON, ALoDIA HU'roHIsoN. 

